About

£21,148

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Hello People. Over the last few albums, as the Whitey project continues on its long, wandering path, there are three questions that people ask me over, and over again...

Where can I buy your albums on CD/vinyl?

When can I see you play live again?

When you play, will you please come to my city/state/continent/planet?

The answer to all these questions is very simple - it's up to you.

Right now, I survive from music. The several thousand fans who consistently buy each new album pretty much keep me going. I've got my creative freedom, I'm my own boss, and I have the ability to distribute music globally- and that's a vast improvement on how things were for many musicians in previous decades.

BUT this same freedom has its drawbacks- without the financial muscle and backing of a large record label, recording each album sets me back to cash zero. And once I release each album, there is no funding to produce CDs or vinyl, to promote the album, and NEVER any money left to equip, rehearse, and take a show on the road. Tour support costs way more than most people realize. And that's a cycle most independent musicians now struggle to break.

I believe that's something we can change.

I've just had a strange few months, wandering in London and Los Angeles, and have emerged with a set of 13 songs. These have become my new album, which I have decided to call 'Bare Bones'. It's raw, more live, urgent and personal than previous Whitey albums. I'm ready to roll, but this time I HAVE to do this album justice.

And when this album is released? THIS time, I want to be able to hold it in my hands. In fact, I want to be able to hold ALL the Whitey albums in my hands- andI think my supporters should be able to do that too.

Finally- I'm going to take this new album, and my other music, out on the road in 2013, and play everywhere I can.

This is where somebody else comes in.

Kickstarter is the chance to BREAK this cycle. Pre-order this album, and help me get this request to as many people as you can- and I'll use the money we raise together to manufacture, rehearse, and go on tour. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

WANT A SHOW IN YOUR CITY?

If you want a Whitey show in your country, in your city- just show theres a demand for it. Whether it's Osaka, Bogota, Berlin or... Portland, I'll come where the demand is. You have 30 days to show me where I'm wanted! If theres enough pledges from your city- then I'll do my very best to see YOU there in 2013. I have the UK's biggest agent Primary, ready to book a tour. The first shows in Switzerland at the end of March are already confirmed.

To build momentum, try to find a way to reach any Whitey fans you know... whether you post a status, write a blog, post a link, write to local/college radio or just play a Whitey record very loud until your neighbours/police ask what it is. There are a thousand different ways to raise awareness. For example: a Facebook appeal/group named "BRING THE WHITEY TOUR TO (YOUR HOME TOWN)" with links to the Kickstarter page is a good start. Your 30 days begin NOW.

SHINY OBJECTS OF DESIRE.

I've researched and designed these carefully, and I'm pleased to offer a variety of options that I personally would love to own. Some are straightforward affordable options, some are luxuries- but in all cases I will keep the quality high, high, high. You can find the full descriptions in the pledges on the right. The options start with high-quality downloads, go up through CDs w/Limited Edition tees...

There's even a pop art cube.... six sides, six sleeve arts, six CD albums...

And the cherry on the cake is... the Very Limited Edition vinyl box set. Gasp at its beauty.

There's only going to be one hundred of these box sets, EVER. And that's it. Signed, numbered, personally dedicated. What a heartbreaker.

There's also personally hand-written CD's, individually written and dedicated lyric poster art, a complete Whitey lyric book.... and one of my guitars. You chaps are SPOILT.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

That's it! I'm keeping it short, sweet and to the point- I'm ready to record, manufacture, rehearse and pack my bags- but from here on it's all down to YOUR efforts. I thank you in advance... hope I see you out there somewhere in 2013.

Risks and challenges

This is where I'm told I have to tell you about the 'risks and challenges' that come with this project. But this project is remarkably straightforward. After my tangled first deal with Polygram as a little embryonic musician, I promised myself I would never again find myself ignorant of the legal, and practical basics of the music life. So I took a crash course in Music Business & Contract Law. Since then I've tried to maintain a degree of independence and maneuverability, and thats led me to work with many, many small labels. This means I've seen how to do it right- and how to not do it right- played out before me many times.

And what I've gathered from watching various small labels rise and fall, is (1) just keep it simple. Don't offer too much. Good music, limited runs, priced sanely. And (2) its vital to research and schedule things properly. Find out where, and how to produce your product. Then crucially, allow enough time to do it WELL.

Thats why you'll notice the project delivery dates on the more complex items are staggered- I want them to be beautifully put together, and I want these box sets to be something that I personally want to own- which I do.

Plus I'm a little OCD about getting creative things 'right'... I'm a one man band for a reason. Meaning I'll get this right, full stop. With your help, of course.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £12 or more
About $19

'BARE BONES' CD HARDBACK ALBUM. This high-quality studio album comes in a hardback format, with an accompanying mini-book of studio notes, copies of original studio handwritten lyrics and accompanying ramblings from me.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £25 or more
About $40

'BARE BONES' EXTENDED ALBUM AND LIMITED T-SHIRT WITH BACKER ALBUM CREDIT. A bonus-tracked extended, hardback CD album with full colour booklet (See above). The t-shirt is a limited BACKER EXCLUSIVE tee featuring a well known Whitey logo from the past.... wish upon a star and it could be yours. PLUS: GET YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK - Everyone who steps up and pre-funds this CD release will be personally name checked and thanked in the sleeve notes.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £30 or more
About $48

SIGNED 'BARE BONES' EXTENDED ALBUM (w/SLEEVE THANKS) AND LIMITED T-SHIRT. Just like the £25 option, but I'll sign the album cover to you- with personal dedication- those who step up and back the project at this level also deservedly get namechecked and thanked in the sleeve notes.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £60 or more
About $97

***THE COMPLETE BOX: LIMITED EDITION***
This is a 14x14x14cm heavyweight cube, containing the following high quality CD albums: BARE BONES / LOST SUMMER / CANNED LAUGHTER / GREAT SHAKES VOL 1 & 2 / THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS A TRAIN. All albums are in full extended versions. The six faces of the cube are each printed with one of the six Whitey album artworks- see artwork on the left. The cube also contains a 12x12 book, with the lyrics and info for every single Whitey track included in the box set. This is it, the definitive, complete Whitey history in a Limited Edition box. This particular version was designed especially for backers, and is limited to just 400 copies.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £100 or more
About $161

"MY BEST OF...."
Select YOUR 12 favorite ever Whitey tracks from any album. I'll make you a hand-written sleeve with track listing, and press your ten tracks as a CD. Then pick which of the ten tracks is your favourite, and I will handwrite the full lyrics to this track as a fold-out poster, signed, dated and dedicated to you. WARNING: may come with doodles and authentic mistakes. Drink marks, cigarette burns and paw prints come at no extra charge.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £125 or more
About $201

***THE DELUXE BOX: METAL EDITION*** SIGNED, WITH COMPLETE LYRICS BOOK. This VERY LIMITED edition OF 150 is numbered, numbers will be assigned in order of purchase. Before delivery it will be SIGNED personally to you, inside the lid. This is a 14x14x14cm brushed metal cube, containing the following high quality CD albums: BARE BONES / LOST SUMMER / CANNED LAUGHTER / GREAT SHAKES VOL 1 & 2 / THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IS A TRAIN. All albums are in full extended versions. The six faces of the cube are each laminated with with one of the six album artworks- see cube artwork on the left. The metal cube also contains a 12x12 book with the lyrics and info for every single Whitey track included within the box set. This is it, the definitive, complete Whitey... this particular version was designed especially for backers, and will NEVER be available again. Numbers will be assigned immediately in order of purchase. Its basically my brain in a box... so look after it.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £150 or more
About $242

***THE WHITEY BOX: RARE VINYL EDITION***
This is for the hardcore collector who is prepared to invest in the real thing: vinyl. The WHITE Edition is a six VINYL LP box set, in a lined white 'hardback' faux-book leather box. Each vinyl LP inside has the original sleeve artwork on heavyweight card. This box is bundled with the same signed book as the Metal Edition. Each vinyl box set is hand-numbered and signed, with a dedication if requested. This VERY LIMITED edition OF 100 is numbered, numbers will be assigned immediately IN order of purchase (see artwork for this on the left.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £500 or more
About $806

**WHITEY NIGHT W/BACKSTAGE + BOX SET** You get issued with a one time '+2 All Areas' pass for a show of your choice in 2013. This covers joining in with the pre-show dinner with myself and the live band, backstage pre-show drinks, side of stage gig viewing, afterparty backstage, and a signed CD box set. Complimentary stage dive and embarrassing photos included at no extra cost.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge £700 or more
About $1,128

*** MY GUITAR! *** Fender acoustic guitar, which I wrote most of the 'BARE BONES' songs on, and which I am/will be using in the recording process. On the last day of recording, I will sign its body, date it, decorate it, write 'BARE BONES' on it, and FedEx it anywhere on this planet. Treat it well, sniff. Comes with free scratches, stickers and a cigarette burn.